COLORADO SPRINGS — Nearly a week after Rep. Douglas Bruce, R-Colo., called migrant workers “illiterate peasants” during a legislative debate, his words still stung protesters who gathered Saturday at a rally in Acacia Park.

“We don’t need people like that representing El Paso County. It already has a bad reputation and Douglas Bruce just made it worse,” said Ed Billings, who held a sign for drivers to see that asked for Bruce’s removal from office.

Billings joined 50 peaceful, sign-carrying protesters demanding that the Colorado Springs Republican issue either an apology or retraction for his statements.

Bruce, who was censured earlier this year for kicking a newspaper photographer on the House floor, stunned lawmakers April 21 when he said, “We don’t need 5,000 more illiterate peasants in the state of Colorado,” during a debate on House Bill 1324, which would speed the process for a temporary seasonal-worker program.

The following day, House leaders decided against taking any disciplinary action against Bruce and decided to try to ignore his controversial antics.

“First he kicks a photographer, then this,” said Ramon Del Castillo, chair of Chicana and Chicano Studies at Metropolitan State College of Denver. “We cannot tolerate this racist attitude, and we need to show the state legislature their condoning it is supporting it.”

Denver’s Mexican consul general Eduardo Arnal said in a statement, “I was surprised to hear the comments made by Rep. Bruce. I found them not only unfortunate but offensive.”

Some Latino educators and leaders say they are considering an emergency community meeting to address Bruce’s remarks and to take a stand against what they think is growing anti-Mexican sentiment in Colorado.

“He is playing on the emotions and fears of people and pitting them against migrant workers,” said Arthur Campa, co-director of the College Assistance Migrant Program on the Auraria Campus. “It’s a slap in the face.”

Protesters Saturday included members of the Democratic Latino Initiative of El Paso County, Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, labor unions and students from Colorado College and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

Rosa Sanchez, 46, of Colorado Springs, one of the event organizers with the Democratic Latino Initiative, said her great-great-grandparents were migrant workers.

“Douglas Bruce is supposed to represent his constituents, but I don’t feel he is. So I’m here today to support my culture and my family’s history of migrant workers.”Onlinedenverpost.com /extras

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